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Aegopodium podagaria NL: Zevenblad / F:  L'égopode podagraire Also known as goutweed, ground elder is one of the first abundant edible greens that appear in spring time, together with cow parsley and nettles. It has a long history of being used as medicine-food. It was cultivated as food crop in the middle ages (probably before that too), and that seems to me a very smart thing since it is such a strong plant that does not need much care, growing strongly in harsh conditions, at a time when not many other plant foods are available.  The young tender leaves are preferred, before the plant is in flower. The flowering point can be postponed however by harvesting the top of the plants regularly. When the leaves are a bit more mature they can get a less appealing taste and they may act as laxative. Choosing only younger leaves before the flowers come out seems to be the way to go! They can be prepared as spinach, in stews, soups, sandwich, pies, you name it. In old folk medicine gr...

Myosotis arvensis M. sylvatica  / M. scorpioides / M. alpestris NL: Vergeet-mij-nietje / F: Myosotis The blue-pinkish flowers of this plant look great in our garden, blooming for up to 5 weeks long.  Its flowers can be added to decorate salads, but as the plant contain varying levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, it should be used in small amounts only.  The whole plant is astringent and it has been used in herbal medicine as an effective remedy for several eye conditions, including conjunctivitis. It is also a handy first aid herb to help stop bleeds when applied externally, fresh or in powder (dried). 

Alliaria petiolata NL: Look-zonder-look / F: Herbe à ail Despite of its name, garlic mustard is not from the family of garlics, but from the mustards (Brassicaceae / Cruciferae). It is a popular edible, used widely in pestos, salad dressings and as a salad ingredient too. Leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible. The leaves are best eaten in early spring, as it may get bitter when the weather turns warmer. Roots can also be eaten, prepared as horseradish, having a similar taste.  the younger the leaves, the tastier It contains a lot of advantages from its more known family members, such as being rich in vitamins A, C, magnesium, calcium, omega 3 fatty acids, flavonoids and isothiocyanates - which are thought to help protect our body against various types of cancer.  In traditional herbalism garlic mustard is used as antiseptic (for wounds, ulcers, cuts...), vulnerary, antiasthmatic, diaphoretic and antiscorbutic. The roots can be processed into a purée or cooked in oil (over l...

Eschscholzia californica NL: Slaapmutsje / F: Pavot de Californie This plant makes its appearance spontaneous in many grounds, but luckily its gorgeousness will prevent most people from removing it from their garden. In fact, many people even plant it as an ornamental in their gardens.  Its seeds are edible, as are the seeds of other family members of this plant (Papaveracea). In traditional medicine it has been employed as sedative, milder than opium, to treat insomnia, without risks of dependency. It is also known for its antidepressant, antihistaminic, antispasmodic and anxyolitic properties.  Its leaves before flowering As a muscle relaxant, it helps to relieve some kind of pains. It is also said to relieve toothache, nervous tension, anxiety, panic attacks and to reduce stress.  California Poppy has also been studied for its effect in improving certain brain functions such as concentration and memory. It induces sweating and urination, but at the same time it has als...

Viola tricolor A.k.a. Heartsease    NL: Driekleurig viooltje / F: Pensée sauvage Another  spontaneous plant that can beautifully decorate our gardens as well as take part in original salad creations. It is rich in beta carotene and vitamin C. This plant has been used in traditional herbalism for a long list of conditions, including: bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory conditions, for its expectorant properties. skin irritations, psoriasis, acne and eczema - as a blood purifying herb. rheumatism and cystitis, due to its diuretic properties and salicylic acids. There is no scientific data on toxicity or risks of overconsumption, even though some herbalists warn that nausea and skin irritation can appear as a result of using too much of it.

NL: kleine veldkers / F: cardamine hérissée Cardamine hirsuta This cute plant from the family of the mustard remains green through the winter months.  As other plants from this family (Brassicacea), this one is also  loaded with vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, beta carotene, antioxidants and sulfur-containing compounds that boost immunity and help in cancer prevention.  You can find this plant in flower now in most places, particularly in shadowy corners. In this video you can learn to identify this cress: Wild Edible Bittercress

Tanacetum vulgare NL: Boerenwormkruid / F: Tanaisie commune Tansy can already be seen growing with full power all over the fields where we go walk with our dogs, as well as in our own garden. This is one of my favorites!  Although is not an edible, it is a great plant to have in the garden. It protects other plants from attacks of parasites and undesirable insects while it attracts beneficial insects, such as bees.  It can be dried and stored for further use as “remedy” in the garden. For that purpose, a strong decoction of the entire plant is made, drained and used to spray plants. It also helps to concentrate potassium in the soil, so it is a superb herb to have next to composting piles.  For its repellent properties, it is a nice plant to have near the kitchen. The dried plant can also be used in sachets to protect the house against flies and it even protects clothes from being eaten by different insects.  It can also be used to protect dogs from fleas and ticks. ...

Hypochoeris radicata Also called flatweed or false dandelion.  NL: Biggenkruid / F: Porcelle enracinée This plant is usually mistaken by dandelion, perhaps because of its bright yellow flower, which also ends up releasing its seeds as windborne “parachutes”. There are a few major differences: cat’s ear has hairy leaves and its leaves have round-dented lobes, while dandelion leaves have sharply toothed angles.  detail of the hairy leaves   Now we are busy comparing both anyway, cat’s ear leaves are not so bitter as dandelion leaves and can be more easily accepted in salads, stews, soups. The root of this plant can be roasted and used to make a coffee, the same way as it is done with dandelion roots. This is one of the plants that can be harvested as food almost the whole year through. Its leaves can be sometimes found healthily green even under a heavy layer of snow. There is some risk of toxicity for horses, so you might want to remove it from meadows where horses are sup...

It’s still too cold to actually celebrate spring, but you have probably already started your seedlings in nurseries or indoors and some baby plants are anxiously waiting to get to the real ground. If only it would get a little warmer. In the meantime you have already spotted lots of little plants coming up spontaneously all over your garden. But you had other plans for your garden than to grant it entirely to these “opportunistic” plants. Wondering what to do with these “weeds”? Perhaps it is a good moment to learn to identify them. Getting to know the true value of each of these plants may help you to make better decisions concerning their “destiny”.  Many of the plants considered weeds contain in fact higher nutritional value than our cultivated leafy vegetables. Some of these opportunistic plants can also improve the health of the soil where we want to grow our vegetables while others can speed up and enrich composting piles. Some can even be used in natural preparations to stre...

With the chilling winds and freezing temperatures forecast for the next couple of days (at least), I feel like sharing two great articles on winter edibles I came across on a great blog: Winter Survival Food - part 1 Winter Survival Food - part 2

Sonchus oleraceus NL: Melkdistel / F: Laiteron This plant has powerful medicinal properties, with some toxicity, but at the same time it is also highly nutritious. It contains, per 100g, around 30mg of vitamin C, 1500 mg of Calcium and 45 mg of Iron. The dried leaves contain up to 28g of protein per 100g - a great nutritional supplement. Use only young leaves as edibles, raw, in salads or cooked, as spinach. In the garden, they perform great function as a “sacrificial plants”, helping to control some fly, moths and aphids that attack some plants. This strong plant grabs every little chance to grow. Its applications in traditional folk medicine around the world are numerous: blood purifier, hepatic, sedative, febrifuge, tonic, pectoral, and there are even mentions of its use to treat cancer and to help people to quit opium addiction. Its white “milk” can be used to get rid of warts (like other milky plants). Here is a video to help you to properly identify Sow Thistle: Spiny-Leaved Sow ...